Smoking does not cause higher cholesterol levels, but it can reduce your HDL ("good") cholesterol.

Exams and Tests

A cholesterol test is done to diagnose a lipid disorder. Some guidelines recommend having your first screening cholesterol test at age 20. Everyone should have their first screening test by age 35 in men, and age 45 in women.

It is important to work with your health care provider to set your cholesterol goals. General targets are:

Whether or not you have heart disease, diabetes, or other blood flow problems

Whether you smoke or are overweight

Whether you have high blood pressure or diabetes

You are more likely to need medicine to lower your cholesterol:

If you have heart disease or diabetes, your LDL cholesterol should stay below 100

If you are at risk for heart disease (even if you do not yet have any heart problems), your LDL cholesterol should be below 130

Almost everyone else may get health benefits from LDL cholesterol that is lower than 160 to 190

There are several types of drugs to help lower blood cholesterol levels, and they work in different ways. Statins are one kind of drug that lower cholesterol.

Outlook (Prognosis)

High cholesterol levels can lead to hardening of the arteries, also called atherosclerosis. This occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries and form hard structures called plaques.

Over time, these plaques can block the arteries and cause heart disease, stroke, and other symptoms or problems throughout the body.

Disorders that are passed down through families often lead to higher cholesterol levels that are harder to control.